Welfare recipients to undergo face scan in order to get payments

Biometric scanning to change myGov access8:21

Access to government services including myGov is set to undergo major reform with facial recognition scanning to be rolled out next year.
Australians will have to provide 100 points of identification and have their face analysed in order to access their government accounts.
However, experts argue the move could allow hackers to steal an individual's biometric data.

A NEW controversial system may soon see welfare recipients required to have their face scanned and analysed before they can access their payments.

The system, which will also affect people trying access Medicare and childcare subsidies, age pension and pay tax online, is part of a new biometric security program that is set to begin in October.

Under the new strategy those trying to access these government services will be required to take photo to create a myGov ID, which will then be checked against driver’s licences and passports to confirm their identity.

Human Services Minister Michael Keenan has hopes the plan will see Australia become a world leader in “digital government” by 2025.

When fully rolled out the digital identity solution will allow users access to almost any government agency through one single portal, with the trial allowing 100,000 people to apply for a Tax File number online.

Currently applicants have to fill in a form online, print it out and take it to the post office so their identification can be verified.

But the introduction of the new system is causing some concern over the privacy of those taking part.

IT security expert Troy Hunt, who runs the website haveibeenpwned.com, told news.com.au that a biometric system — like the one proposed — wasn’t without its faults.

“One of the problems is we want to be able to access things in a secure fashion but passwords aren’t really great for doing that because a lot of us tend to use the same one for everything,” he said.

“Biometrics can be better in this aspect but on the flip side it is information that can’t really be changed if there is a security breach.”

Mr Hunt said that once a database is built up of this biometric data then there was the possibility it could be used for reasons other than it’s intended purpose. For example having a scan of people’s faces on file could make it easier to identify or track people through security camera.

There are some security concerns with the new biometric system. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/AAPSource:AAP

He said it was up to the government to prove to Australians that the system wasn’t going to be abused.

“What we want to see from the Australian government is transparency about how this system is being used and where the information is going,” Mr Hunt said.

“They need to convince us that we can be confident in this system and trust them [with] this kind of data.”

The new system will be implemented on a voluntary basis but those who refuse to take part won’t be able to access government services online.

This means they will have to queue up at Centrelink to access these services in person.

For those who do use the new system they have been assured that their digital face image will be deleted as soon as it is checked against the other identifying documents they provided.

A media release published on Mr Keenan’s website states that “privacy and security will be at the heart of any of the changes we plan to make”.

“Consultation will also be vital with both industry and relevant interest groups to ensure we deliver services that people will want to use and also trust,” the statement reads.